The Felixstowe Flyer Magazine February 2024
In The Felixstowe Flyer magazine February 2024, The Flyer magazine February editions, we hear from local community groups, local schools as well as charity groups.
And other updates from local community groups, also local schools and organisations.
From the Mayor
Dear Fellow Felixstowians – it’s been a while…
In this instalment: three contrasting Felixstowe engagements I had the last full week of January.
First was a Monday morning call at Grange Community Primary School. I’d been asked by headteacher Mr Abbott, to give a talk to the school assembly – ages 5-11 – on local democracy and the role of Mayor. To get pupils familiar with the idea of democracy from the earliest possible age, the school elects its own Council of Year 6 reps, who make their pitch for the votes (a single sticky dot:) from all 170 children. I was so impressed that the school does this from such an early age – it’s like pretty much anything, from swimming to darts, if you start (really) young it will always be in your life skill set, something you do as second nature. My talk was part of that valuable familiarisation and I could sense the pupils’ openness to and understanding of what I was going on about e.g. the Town Hall built in 1892, with 16 elected councillors, chaired by a mayor who went to a local school just like theirs. The pupils asked lots of questions and it wouldn’t surprise me if a future councillor, mayor or even MP turns out to have been sitting in that assembly. Thanks and well done Grange – and I am very open to visiting other schools in the town – please do get in touch.
‘Quick Chat’ Job Fair
The next day I was privileged to open Felixstowe’s second ‘Quick Chat’ Job Fair, organised by the Jobcentre and hosted beautifully by the Salvation Army. Twenty-two local employers (including the Town Council) and volunteer-involving organisations presented their opportunities, with over 60 members of the public attending, mainly jobcentre clients, many of them young, in a really positive atmosphere. I learnt that around 10% of Suffolk’s police is made up of Special Constables, including a small number in Felixstowe – these officers have all the powers of regular police but are unpaid, and this is an excellent route into policing as a career. The event also launched a new Job Club which will meet every Wednesday 1000-1200 at the Salvation Army, starting 28.02.24. This free service is open to all who wish to boost their prospects, make new contacts and develop skills such interviewing and CV writing. Thanks to The Yeo Group, A&S Recruitment, HSBC, Felixstowe Chamber, Specsavers and the Salvation Army for supporting and enabling this valuable new initiative.
Felixstowe Library
That same afternoon I had a great time at Top Time! This is a free weekly drop-in social group for older people (55+) meeting every Tuesday 2-4pm at Felixstowe Library. I showed some scintillating photos of life as Mayor, which went down well, although I was gently ticked off for not having a proper mayoral gown and medieval hat like the Woodbridge mayor! There was also concern about the state of our roads and pavements and I plan to do some follow-up to help enable group members to report issues via https://highwaysreporting.suffolk.gov.uk/ I recommend this group to anyone retired and wanting to get out, meet people in a friendly setting and learn about things they didn’t know they needed to know! Thanks to manager Steph Merrett for the invite and all the great work the Library does.
Next month: do you know where Felixstowe’s public defibrillators are located, and why it matters.
seamus.bennett@felixstowe.gov.uk
FB: @SeamusTC and Mayor of Felixstowe
I & X @CllrSeamusB